Unrest in Quebec, but more peace overall... (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz)

(Newser)
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You wouldn't know it from Newser's coverage, but apparently the world has become a more peaceful place in 2012. Reuters reports that the Global Peace Index registered its first boost in two years, after surveying everything from civil unrest to military spending in 158 countries. The Middle East was largely the exception to the rule: It, along with North Africa, grabbed the "least peaceful region" title from sub-Saharan African for the first time, and was the only area to not show some kind of improvement.

You can thank the awful economy for some of the gains, which have brought us to peace levels similar to those observed six years ago: Global military spending is starting to inch down. But diplomacy between countries is also winning out over violence. (The report specifically noted stronger relations between Venezuela and Colombia .) Topping the list as the most peaceful country is Iceland, with Somalia bringing up the rear. It was, no big surprise, a rough year for Syria and Greece. Turns out America is becoming a little less violent, too.

Every year in a group of islands known as the Faroe Islands — off the coasts of Denmark and Iceland — a whale massacre takes place. Thousands of pilot whales are lured to the shallower waters of the Faroe Island bay. It's at this time that whale hunters slaughter the whales for human consumption and as a game/challenge. They slash and stab the whales' outer skin until the surrounding waters turn red with their blood. The killers: All 50,000 inhabitants of the islands are the direct descendants of the vikings. The Faroe Island massacre is one that dates back to the 1500s and is an event steeped in tradition for the Faroese as a "rite of passage" from boyhood into manhood. Many people come from all over to watch and cheer the slaughter, and when it's done, eat the whales' meat. That which is not consumed is simply thrown away. The Faroese are all but decimating an entire species of precious marine mammals and it must be stopped now. Sign the petition imploring Faroe Islands Prime Minister Kaj Leo Johannesen to put an end to this barbaric event once and for all. Goal: 30,000 - Progress: 21,726 Note: A Scientific panel has ruled that meat from whales contains dangerous levels of chemicals & PCBs 10-1000 x higher than even fish. "Our advice is not to eat whale meat due to the impact on a child's brains.", said Janneche Utne Skaare, deputy director of the Nordic National Institute. Norway and Denmark have issued advisories against eating whale meat sold by whalers because of brain damage due to toxic mercury. http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/campaign.faces?siteId=3&campaign=FaroeIslandWhaleSlaughter&ThirdPartyClicks=ETA_090811_FaroeIslandWhaleSlaughter_F